Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise

Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise
Commune

The bell tower of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise

Coat of arms
Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise

Coordinates: 50°22′47″N 2°20′06″E / 50.3797°N 2.335°E / 50.3797; 2.335Coordinates: 50°22′47″N 2°20′06″E / 50.3797°N 2.335°E / 50.3797; 2.335
Country France
Region Hauts-de-France
Department Pas-de-Calais
Arrondissement Arras
Canton Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise
Intercommunality Saint-Polois
Government
 • Mayor (2001–2008) Maurice Louf
Area1 8.24 km2 (3.18 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 5,368
 • Density 650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 62767 /62130
Elevation 82–149 m (269–489 ft)
(avg. 87 m or 285 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The population of the town itself is 5,368, the population of the canton is 14,939.

History

The county of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, usually referred to as just Saint-Pol, was originally a stronghold of the Counts of Flanders and was established as a county in the late 9th century. When the county passed out of the family of the Flemish counts, it remained subject to the Count of Flanders as his vassals until 1180. It became subject to France, then Artois (1237–1329), then France again until it ceased to exist as a county and was annexed to France in 1702.

Saint-Pol was first controlled by the Flemish counts, then by the family known as Campdavaine from early in the 11th century. In 1205 the county passed to the seigneurs of Châtillon through marriage, and remained with this dynasty until 1360 when it passed to the Luxembourg dynasty. Around 1487 the county passed to the Capetian-Bourbon-Vendôme dynasty through marriage, then to the Longueville-Neuchâtel dynasty from around 1563. In 1702 it came under direct rule of France.

In the Middle Ages, several of the Counts of Saint-Pol were active in the Crusades.

On November 7th 1920, the remains of four unidentifiable, fallen British soldiers disintered from the battlefields at Aisne, Arras, the Somme and Ypres were brought to the town's chapel. There, senior officers selected one to be carried to Westminster Abbey to be re-buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

Notable people

Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise was the birthplace of Marie de St Pol (c1303-1377), foundress of Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise was the birthplace of Pierre Repp (1909–1986), humorist and actor.

Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise was the birthplace of Martial Joseph Armand Herman (1749-1795), a politician of the French Revolution, and temporary French Foreign Minister.

See also

References

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